Pump



March 6, 1928.

T. s. HARRINGTCN PUMP Filed July 13. 1927 Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PUMP.

Application filed July 13, 1927, Serial No. 205,487, and in Great Britain February 11, 1827.

This invention relates to pumps In deep well pumping, e. g. ra1s1ng Oll, it is usual to sink a tube, and near the bottom dispose a barrel in which is arranged the working valve or plunger, the barrel carrying at its lower end a valve termed the standing valve. The plunger is connected by rods, the sucker rods, to gear at ground level driven so as to impart reciprocation to the plunger. As the plunger rises oil is sucked into the barrel through the standing valve and on descent of the plunger the oil previously drawn into the barrel is forced upwards through the plunger to the upper side thereof. The continued operation of the plunger first fills the tube to ground level, and then causes a flow therefrom. From the time the tube is full the plunger is required at each up-stroke to lift a column of liquid of a head equal to the height of the tube above the plunger. The liquid raised carries sand with it, in suspension, in varying quantities, and the sand with some oil is forced back past the plunger by the pressure due to-static head, and in a very short time wears out the cups or scores the metal plunger and so brings about inefllcient working. This damaging effect of the sand results in every pump in sandy wells being inoperative for several hours of every working day in order to raise the plunger to the surface and renew the cups. In some cases where wells are only worked a few hours each day sand collects on top of the plunger to an extent resulting in it being stuck which necessitates withdrawing the plunger and tubing and cleaning same.

Now, the main object of the present in vention is to devise a pumping apparatus devoid of such troubles as above set forth, and especially to devise improved means for raising oil from deep levels.

A method of raising liquid according ta the present invention consists in pulsating a fluid column terminating in a liquid piston of greater density than the liquid to be raised, whereby as the piston rises and falls correspondingly to the pulsations transmitted through the fluid column, quantities of the lighter liquid are raised.

The pulsations may be produced by any known form of compressor, and arrangements made for varying the amplitude and speed of the pulsations;

One construction according to the invention comprises a barrel with inlet and outlet valves in the head, and a conduit for the liquid column passing through the head and terminating below the level of the liquid piston formed therein preferably by mer- T he conduit for the fluid column may be of a height substantially equal to the depth of the well, butpreferably a plunger and sucker-rods are employed as hereafter explained, the barrel for the plunger being continued to provide a conduit for a fluid column extending only from the plunger face to a level below that of the mercury piston.

;At each pulsation the mercury piston rises, and between each, falls. As the piston falls the liquid to be pumped, e. g. oil, enters a port in the barrel leading to the inlet valve, and thence into the barrel and lies on the out of the barrel through the outlet valve.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of example a preferred construction according to the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l'is a sectional elevation taken on 1. The coupling is on the lower side connected, preferably removably, to a barrel 3,

hereafter termed the piston barrel, in which is formed the liquid piston according to the invention, for instance, of mercury indicated at i;an anchor (not shown, being ofusual form) being associated with the lower external end' of the piston barrel in any convenient manner, e. g. by engaging in the threaded extremity 5 of a terminal coupling 6, hereafter more particularly referred to. At the closed end of the tube is formed a valve 7 controlling communication between a lateral inlet 8 for oil and a duct 9 leading into the piston barrel 3; this is the inlet valve; and a valve 10 controlling communication 11 between the piston barrel 3 and the tube 1; this is the outlet valve.

Passing'through the closed end of the tube is a duct 12 extending down into the barrel 3 and terminating below the normal level 75 mercury, and is at the next pulsation pushed of the liquid (e. g. mercury) therein the upper part of the duct terminating in a working barrel 13 for a plunger 14 connected to a sucker-rod. 15 operated in any well known way. The duct 12 constitutes the confines of a short liquid column disposed, according to the invention, between a plunger 14 and the liquid piston 4.

The plunger 14: being operated causes pulsations in the liquid column with the duct 12 and from the column they are transmitted to the mercury piston 41. At each pulsation the mercury piston rises, and between each, falls. As the piston falls the liquid (e. g. oil) being pumped enters lateral opening 8, passes the inlet valve 7, which is then raised, and lows through the transverse bore 21 and down the vertical bore 9 and enters the barrel 3 and lies on the surface of the mercury piston. Atthe next pulsation this oil is pushed out of the barrel through the communication 11 and outlet valve 10 to the tube 1.

In such a construction, although a plunger is utilized to raise the oil or other liquid, there is no contact between the raised liquid and the plunger; hence it cannot suil'er the damage due to sand, as it is not required, as heretofore, to bodily lift the column of oil in the well tube.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the plunger operates on the down stroke, which means that the weight of the plunger, sucker rods, etc., practically balances the weight of the liquid (e. g. oil) being raised in the tubing. If it is found that a greater weight is required to pump up the liquid being raised, the weight of the rods etc. can be augmented with water or other ballast in the plunger barrel or an extension thereof.

In order that the valves may be readily accessible it is preferred to construct the coupling 2 so that it carries the inlet and outlet valves 7 and 10, and is formed with the lateral opening 8 and duct 9 leading to the piston barrel 3, and the communication 11 between the tube 1 and piston barrel, so that it is demountable from both the latter two members.

The coupling accordingly may include a solidcentre part and have coaxial tubular extensions 16, 1'1, preferably internally threaded, for connection to the tube and barrel respectively, and parallel bores 18, 19, in whichmay be disposed removable valve seats 20, 21, the bore 18 communicating direct with the lateral opening 8 for the admission of oil and the bore 19 passing right through for the outlet.

From the inlet seating 20 the solid part is bored transversely as indicated at 21, Fig. 2, the bore being plugged at- 22, at the periphery of the coupling, and vertically so as to produce the communication between duct 9, the transversely arranged bore 21 and the underside of the coupling, i. e. to the barrel when in situ.

The upper part of the bores 18, 19, are threaded for the reception of valve cages 23, 24. The cages are so designed as to permit a good lift of the valves, whereby the probability of choking by the sand which passes in and out with the oil is practically negligible. As all the parts are easily removable, cleaning when necessary, or renewal and substitution of parts, is quickly eil'ected.

The coupling may also include part of the duct for the fluid column, 0. g. by an axial tube 25 extending upwardly and downward ly for connecting to the working barrel l3, and to a pipe 26 depending into the piston barrel 3, both connections being of detachable nature, e. g. threaded, and convenient ly the upward extension is connected to the working barrel 13 which will generally be of greater diameter by a tube 27 having a tapering body portion and terminal cylindrical parts to suit the working barrel and coupling extension 25.

The piston barrel 3 may be constituted by a tube in which is disposed a liner 528 closed at the lower end and secured therein by the terminal coupling 6 to which may be attached an anchor. The liner is preferably formed of cast iron, and its inner face left rough to prevent the mercury contained therein from coating the inner wall. the outer tube being formed of steel.

By the present invention a great increase of output is available as the pump is always operative when the wells are flowing, and cleaning is only necessary over lengthy periods of operation and can be cffected at chosen times when the wells are relatively dry, thus utilizing the time usually lost by frequent removal of the pumps now in use. The only relatively delicate parts are the cups on the plunger 14, but owing to'tlie construction of this pump the cups are never reached by the oil or other liquid which is being raised.

l'Vhilc I have described one particular form of carrying my invention into effect, it will be understood that the same may be somewhat modified without departing from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Owing to the manner in which a pump according to this invention operates, the sand remains in suspension and is brought to the surface with theoil.

That I claim is:

, 1. A pumping apparatus comprising in combination a tube terminating in a piston barrel, a liquid piston within said barrel. a working barrel within said tube. pulsating means within said working barrel for causing the rise and fall of the piston, 21 fluid column confined between said pulsating means and liquid piston, a valve controlling the inflow of the liquid to be raised to the till Inn

piston barrel, and a valve controlling the outflow from said barrel to the space between the working barrel and tube.

2. Pumping apparatus comprising in combination a tube terminating in a piston barrel, a head to the barrel, closing the contiguous end of the tube, inlet andvoutlet valves in said head controlling respectively a communication from outside said barrel to the interior thereof, and a duct passing through the head to connect the interiors of the tube and barrel, a liquid piston in said barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, a confined fluid column extending through said tube and passing through said head to the piston, and means for pulsating the column.

3. In combination in pumping apparatus,

a tube, a piston barrel at the lower end thereof, a coupling removably connecting the tube and barrel, and closing the said lower end of the tube, said coupling including valves removably mounted and controlling the inflow on to the piston from the e):- terior of the barrel and the flow from the barrel to the tube, a liquid piston in the barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, a duct extending from the piston through the head, and into the tube, a fluid column confined within the duct and means for pulsating the column.

i. In combination in pumping apparatus a tube, a piston barrel at the lower end thereof, a liquid piston within the barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, a working barrel within said tube, plunger and sucker rods operating within said working barrel, a head to the working barrel closing the contiguous end of the tube, a duct passing through said head, extending from the working barrel and into the piston, a valve controlling the inflow of the liquid to be raised to the piston barrel and a valve controlling the outflow from said barrel to the space between the working barrel and tube. 5. In combination in pumping apparatus a tube, a piston barrel, a liquid piston within the barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, a coupling removably connectmg the tube and barrel and closing the said lower end of the tube, said coupling includ ing valves removably mounted and controlling the inflow on to the piston from the exterior of the barrel, and the flow from the barrel to the tube, a working barrel within said tube, a plunger and sucker rods operating within said working barrel, a duct extending from the working barrel passing through said head and into the piston.

6. In combination in pumping apparatus a workin barrel, a plunger and sucker rods within said barrel, a tube surrounding said barrel, and comprising a liquid piston below the barrel, a duct in extension of said workvalves controlling within said barrel, a tube surrounding said barrel, valves in said tube, and externally of said barrel controlling the inflow to said tube, and up said tube and about said barrel, and fluid means inducing and forcing the inflow to and up said tube pulsated by said plunger.

8. In combination in pumping apparatus a working barrel, a tube surrounding the barrel, a piston barrel, a coupling connecting the tube and piston barrel including a solid part closing the lower endof the tube, a liquid piston in the piston barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, and duct extending down from said working barrel into the liquid piston and fluid confined in the duct, means within said working barrel for pulsating the fluid and valves in the solid part of the coupling controlling the inflow on the piston from the exterior of Husband and the flow from the piston barrel to the tube. a I

9. In combination in pumping apparatus a working barrel, a tube surrounding the barrel, a piston barrel, a coupling connecting the tube and piston barrel including a solid part closing the lower end of the tube, aliquid piston on the piston barrel of greater density than the liquid to be raised, a duct extending down from said Workingbarrel into the liquid piston, a part of which is in tegral with said coupling, communications in the coupling between the exterior of the pis ton barrel and the piston barrel and the space between the tube and working barrel, valves removably arranged in said coupling to control said communications and means within said working barrel for pulsating the fluid column.

10. In combination in pumping apparatus a tube, closed at the lower end, a liquid piston confined at the lower end, a duct within said tube terminating below the level of the piston, a fluid within the duct, means for pulsating the fluid and valves arranged the piston barrel, and between above said piston controlling conduits per- I ,mitting inflow through the tube to the sur face of the piston of the liquid to be raised and from the piston out of the area of its confinement to the upper part of the tube.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature,

TERENCE SHIELDS HARRINGTON. 

